Air fryer eggplant makes the BEST side dish or appetizer, with the first batch on the table in 30 minutes! Flavored with Italian seasonings and a Parmesan and panko coating, these crispy rounds don't even need oil.
Slice eggplant into rounds approximately ¼-inch thick.
In one shallow bowl, add flour, salt, and pepper and whisk to combine.
In a second shallow bowl, add panko, Parmesan, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, and dried basil and stir to combine.
In a third shallow bowl, crack eggs and whisk until beaten.
Grease air fryer basket generously with cooking spray, then place it to the side of your three bowls. For ease, arrange them in flour, egg, panko order, with the panko bowl next to your prepared air fryer basket.
Press one eggplant round at a time into the flour mixture so it coats both sides. Next dip it into the beaten egg milk to moisten all parts, then press it into the panko mixture. Using your fingers or a spoon to press the coating onto the rounds to ensure it's well-coated. Place the coated round onto the air fryer basket. Repeat for remaining eggplant rounds and arrange them in a single layer (you'll likely need to cook them in batches). Give the top sides of the eggplant a spritz with olive oil spray.
Air fry at 375°F for 5 minutes, then carefully remove the basket to flip each round over. Give the now-top sides a spritz of olive oil spray. Air fry again for 4-5 more minutes, or until the eggplant becomes crisp and nicely golden-brown. Serve right away with warmed marinara sauce.
Notes
Ingredient NotesParmesan: An equal amount of Pecorino Romano can be subbed in for the Parmesan.Spices: There's wiggle room here for you to tweak the dried herb and spice mix. Crushed red pepper would be a good addition to add some heat.Recipe Tips
Cutting the eggplant into slices of equal thickness ensures they air fry to golden brown doneness in the same amount of time.
Use a two-hand procedure when dredging for less mess. Reserve one hand for maneuvering the eggplant in the flour and panko bowls, while using the other for dipping in egg. Designating a dry and wet ingredient hand minimizes the wet coating that forms and sticks to your fingers.
Spraying the eggplant with olive oil spray at the beginning and halfway through air frying helps the surface of the food become extra crisp. This is especially helpful in recipes that don’t use oil at all.
Cook Time: All air fryers cook a little differently so you may need a little more or a little less cook time for your eggplant rounds to be done. Look for them to be a deep golden brown and crisp.Nutrition: The nutrition featured is an estimate for one serving with two tablespoons of marinara sauce.
Nutritional information is provided as an estimate. As it can vary due to many factors (brands used, quantities, etc.), we cannot guarantee its accuracy.